Upholds

Federal Judge Upholds Georgia’s Runoff System, Denying Black Voters’ Claims of Voter Suppression

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – A federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump has declined to block Georgia’s system for runoff elections, which has faced scrutiny for its history of diluting Black voting power. The system, designed in the early 1960s to curb Black voting influence, was revamped by Republicans in 2021 to restrict ballot access after Democrats won two US Senate elections. As part of a broader package of voting restrictions, Georgia Republicans decreased the runoff election period from nine weeks to four weeks and reduced early voting from three weeks to one week. The … Read more

Judge Upholds Wisconsin Election Official’s Position, Rejecting Republicans’ Attempted Ouster

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MADISON, Wis. – In a recent ruling, a judge in Wisconsin has affirmed the legality of the state’s top elections official’s position, dealing a blow to Republicans who have sought to remove her. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission came to a deadlock in June over the reappointment of Meagan Wolfe as the administrator of elections. While three Republican commissioners voted in favor, the three Democrats abstained, effectively preventing the nomination from reaching the state Senate, where Republicans could have fired her. The commission requires a four-vote majority for any actions. Wolfe has been the target … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds $24 Million Verdict in Landmark Disability Discrimination Lawsuit against Clinical Testing Firm

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A federal district court judge in Massachusetts has upheld a $24 million jury award for a former employee who sued her employer for retaliation and discrimination based on her social anxiety disorder. The employer, PPD Development, had requested the court to set aside or reduce the award, arguing that it was excessive and unsupported. However, U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin rejected these requests and affirmed the jury’s verdict. In 2015, Lisa Menninger was hired as the executive director of the central labs at PPD, a clinical testing firm. She began working … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights in Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge in Pensacola has rejected a plea from the Escambia County School District to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its removal of several books from its shelves. The books in question include “The Bluest Eye,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and “The Kite Runner.” U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell issued a terse order on Wednesday, allowing claims of viewpoint discrimination and denial of the right to receive information under the First Amendment. However, he did reject an equal-protection claim. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors whose books were affected, and parents … Read more